New farming techniques increase corn yields in Inner Mongolia sandlands
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The National Natural Science Foundation of China partnered with a research team from the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences to implement high-yield corn farming in the Naiman Banner of Inner Mongolia.
Previously, farmers in this region struggled with sandy soil that held little water or fertilizer, resulting in low yields that relied heavily on favorable weather. The new approach uses dense planting and precision drip irrigation to provide water and nutrients directly to the plants.
The research team increased the number of corn plants per mu from over 4,000 to over 6,000 by selecting high-density tolerant varieties and using GPS-guided precision seeding. These methods also saved farmers between 100 and 150 cubic meters of water per mu and reduced fertilizer use by 5 to 10 kilograms per mu. To support the transition, the foundation established demonstration bases and a "party branch plus cooperative plus household" management model.
This system uses a land-share and profit-sharing mechanism to reduce the financial risks for individual farmers. By 2025, the adoption of these techniques across the region increased total production by approximately 215 million kilograms and generated over 450 million yuan in additional income. In Fangjiayingzi Village, the cooperative distributed 4.2 million yuan in dividends to 260 households.
